meeker



(No Model.)

B. M. MEEKER. APPARATUS FOR MELTI'NG AND APPLYING SEALING WAX, &c.

No. 600,619. Patented Mar. 15,1898.

JTNESSES: INVENTOR M ATTORNEY IlNrrnn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

DAVID M. MEEKER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUSFOR MELTINGIAND APPLYING SEALING-WAX, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,619, dated March 15, 1898.

Application filed November 28, 1896. Serial No. 613,753. (Non odeL) I T0 62% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID M. MEEKER, a citizen of the United States, and a'resident of Newark, Essex county, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Melting and Applying Sealing-Wax, &c., of which the following description, taken in connection with the drawings herewith accompanying, is a specification.

Heretofore it has been the usual practice in applying sealing-wax, gums, and other similar material upon letters, packages, bottles, &c., for the purpose of sealing the same to hold the sealing material above the article to be sealed and then apply heat to the same with a match or taper until it has become suf-.

ficiently melted to drop upon the article to be sealed. This practice is objectionable for many reasons. For instance, applying the flame directly to the wax or other sealing material tends to discolor the same, and this, upon letters or other articles where the attractive appearance is an important feature, is very undesirable. Another objection to the above practice is that after heating the wax it is very difficult to regulate with any degree of accuracy the amount that will fall or drop upon the article to be sealed, and in case the amount is more or less than required an insufficient or unattractive seal results. Further, such described practice requiring the use of both hands, more or less time is consumed in laying aside the wax and taper preparatory to applying the seal, during which time the wax is liable to become so cooled as not to receive a proper impression or seal thereon. To avoid such described and other equally obvious objections to the practice or method referred to, and in so doing provide means whereby the wax or other sealing material may be melted and automatically applied in a clean, rapid, and economicalmanner without the direct application of the flame to the sealing material, has been the object of my present invention.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a bar or piece of metal, of copper or other suitable material,to form a good heat-conductor, to which heat is adapted to be applied at some desired point and having a recess or receptacle formed therein-to receive the wax or sealing material to be melted, which said recess or receptacle is provided with a restricted discharge-orifice therein, through which the sealing material may pass to the article to be sealed after becoming sufiiciently melted by contact with the heated surface or walls of the said receiving-recess. By this means heat may be applied to the bar or piece containing the recess at some convenient point distant from the latter and the heat be con- I ducted therethrough to the wall of said recess,

so that a piece of sealing-wax or other similar material may be placed in the latter and be contained therein on account of its restricted exit-orifice until it becomes sufficiently melted to pass through the latter and dropin a liquid form'upon the article placed in position to receive the same, after which a sealmay be applied thereto, if so desired. Referring to the drawings, Figure lrepresents a side elevation of an apparatus em- I bodying my invention in vertical section, and Fig. 2 represents a top view of the apparatus.

To explain in detail, (1 represents a supporting stand or holder upon which, as herein illustrated, the heat-conductor b is supported. This part b, which may be formed of copper, iron, aluminium, or other good heat-conducting material as may be found in practice to be most desirable, is, as herein shown, provided with an enlarged portion b at one end thereof, having a recess or openin g 5 extending vertically through the same. This opening b is enlarged at its mouth or upper end, so as to conveniently receive a piece of wax or other sealing material, and is restricted at apoint b belowits mouth, soas to form a recess or receptacle in the upper part of the opening in which the wax received therein will be contained and held unceive the seal thereon, after the wax has dropped upon the article being sealed, the.

. article close thereto and giving the same such slight movement as may be necessary to properly spread the same. Another feature of this construction is the said lower surface of the part I) being heated keeps the wax sufficiently melted while held in contact therewith as to insure its proper spreading.

The restricted portion b of the opening 12 is formed at a point above the lower end of the latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the wall of said opening below said restricted portion is flared or tapered outwardly toward its lower end, so as to form an enlarged escape-orifice below the restricted portion 12 as shown. The result secured by reason of the wall of the opening b being thus tapered out wardly below'the restricted portion 17 is as follows: After the wax has become thoroughly melted, so as to pass through the restricted portion b the tendency of the same is to follow the surface of the wall of the opening, as will be obvious, and the said wall being tapered outwardly, as described, will thus cause the melted wax to spread out after. passing through the restricted portion 11 and'be evenly distributed upon the article placed to receive the same. The melted wax being thus evenly spread out or distributed to take such form as may be given by the outline of the surface I), as before described, insures its receiving a good impression or seal.

The heat-conductor b, as herein illustrated, is provided with an enlarged heating-surface c at that end opposite its wax receiving and discharging end I), under which, as herein shown, a small alcohol-lamp d is placed to apply heat thereto. This heating end or surface 0 is circular in outline and dish-shaped on its under side, so as to afiord an increased heating surface and to better retain the heat. It will be obvious, however, that such heating-surface may be of any desired form or size, as maybe found to be most desirable in practice, without departure from my invention.

I have shown the lamp (1 as a convenient means for applying heat to the conductor 1); but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to a lamp or any other particular means for such purpose, as any suitable means for applying heat to the said conductor 1) is within the spirit of my invention. For instance, it may be more convenient in some cases where the apparatus is used more or less continuously to support the part b upon may be materially modified as may be found necessary in practice to adapt the apparatus for the different purposes for which it might be used or to the different places where it might be located.

The conductor 1) is preferably insulated from its holder or stand a by suitable insulating material a, so as to prevent the conduction of heat to said holder or stand, whereby the latter may be grasped, if so desired, to move the device and also to avoid any damage to the table or other object upon which the holder may be supported or secured.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A heat-conductor, for the application of wax or other sealing material, having a receptacle formed with a delivery aperture in its bottom adapted for the application thereto of the paper or article to be sealed, said conductor being adapted to have heat applied thereto at a point distant from said aperture, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A heat-conductor, for the application of wax or other sealing material, having a receptac'le formed with a delivery-aperture in its bottom, said aperture being adapted to form the outline of the seal, and adapted for the application thereto of the paper or article to be sealed, said conductor being adapted to have heat applied thereto at a point distant from said aperture, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A heat-conductor of suitable material, provided with an opening therein to receive wax or other sealing material to be melted, having a restricted discharge-orifice through which the melted wax is passed, and provided with an enlarged surface for the application of heat thereto at a point distant from said wax receiving and discharging opening therein, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. A heat-conductor of suitable material, having means to receive and hold wax or other sealing material to be melted and automatically discharge the same after being melted, and a stand or holder havingan insulated connection with said heat conductor and adapted for supporting the same with a part thereof imposition for the application of heat thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A heat-conductor of suitable material, or sealing material receiving and discharging provided With an opening therein to receive opening therein, substantiallyas and for the Wax or other sealing material to be melted, purpose set forth.

having a restricted discharge-orifice through DAVID M. MEEKER. 5 Which the melted wax is passed, and provided Witnesses:

with a concave surface for the application of STEPHEN M. MILLER,

heat thereto at a point distant from said Wax GARDNER MEEKER. 

